I read more books this year than I ever have before. I really owe it all to my husband who bought me a Kindle for our ten year anniversary last January. It was tremendously helpful while waking up with and feeding our baby this last year.
I'll list the books I read below, but bold those that still stand out to me after all this time. I hope you find something that peaks your interest!
[Picture from our one date last year in the Netherlands!]
January 2021:
Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight Against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
You're Not Enough (And That's Okay) by Allie Beth Stuckey
Last Light by Terri Blackstock {I still think about this series. Imagining life without electricity and our modern 'necessities' fascinates me.}
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center {I have loved all of Center's books! Mostly clean romcoms with deeper story lines.}
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
Night Light by Terri Blackstock
Strange Country by Donna Leon
Out of the Silence: After the Crash by Eduardo Strauch
The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
February 2021:
Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearlsey {Kearsley writes great historical fiction. Loved that this one flipped back and forth from Portugal to NYC to Canada . WWII and present day,}
Until Tomorrow: Christy and Todd the College Years by Robin Jones Gunn
The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee {fascinating memoir!}
The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg
The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali {One of the most beautiful novels! Tehran 1950s to 2013 US.}
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey
A Room With A View by E.M. Forster
From Scratch by Tembi Locke
Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods
Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk
March 2021:
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman {Loved this funny murder mystery set in a retirement home and investigated by septuagenarians!}
Sweet Water by Cara Reinard
Mary Prince and Asa-Asa {Eye-opening autobiographies of former slaves who found freedom in Great Britain.}
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
When We Were Young and Brave by Hazel Gaynor
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle {A reread for me. Really enjoyed the audiobook this go around.}
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill {Fantastic movie-like autobiography of a Dutch missionary, specifically during the Cold War.}
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin by Jan Stocklassa
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson {Another reread. I was impressed with its readability for such an old book.}
April 2021:
Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
Narrative of My Captivity Among the Sioux Indians by Fanny Kelly
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder {My boys loved this read-aloud with all of its farm life descriptions.}
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Last Firehawk: The Ember Stone by Katrina Charman {My boys love this series!}
The Last Firehawk: The Crystal Caverns by Katrina Charman
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger {I savored this whole book. It gave me so much to think about--a bit like a modernized Huck Finn tale.}
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Things You Save in A Fire by Katherine Center {Another awesome romcom that is not just fluff.}
May 2021:
Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates
Insider Outsider: My Journey As A Stranger in White Evangelicalism and My Hope for Us All by Bryan Loritts
The Likeness by Tana French {French's mysteries are always kind of creepy, but this one was a stand out. They are slow burns that leave you feeling the eerie atmosphere she creates.}
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradely
The Mouse and The Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
The Restoration of Celia Fairchild by Marie Bostwick
A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming by Kerri Rawson
Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot {This series was a surprise to me. I'm not a huge animal person or medical person, but I loved Herriot's books!}
In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
June 2021:
Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
What You Wish For by Katharine Center {You know by now how much I enjoy Center's books!}
The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms
All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot {Another great book describing life as a vet in England right before WWII.}
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater {A funny read-aloud with the boys. They enjoyed Mr. Popper and his talented penguins.}
The Last Firehawk: The Whispering Oak by Katrina Charman
None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different from Us (and why thats a good thing) by Jen Wilkin
The Mysterious Affair at Styles: Hercule Poirot's First Case by Agatha Christie {Always fun to find a Christie novel I haven't read before!}
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
July 2021:
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny {Penny's mysteries are slow, somewhat cozy, but deal with the grit that comes from murder and crime. I always enjoy reading her books.}
The Survivors by Jane Harper {Harper's novels have tension so thick you can feel it. Set on Australian continent.}
Room-maid by Sariah Wilson
The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
Upstairs at the White House by J.B. West {I am fascinated by life in the White House. West's autobiography is interesting and informative without being seedy. He worked there from FDR-Nixon.}
New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait Monaghan
The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel C. Rosenberg {Rosenberg writes incredibly detailed political thrillers from a Christian perspective.}
The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
August 2021:
The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester
Dune by Frank Herbert
The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny {Another Inspector Gamache installment. Loved the setting in a reclusive monastery.}
Heaven by Randy Alcorn {A heavily researched book on what the Bible actually says about Heaven, and inferences that can be made from those Scriptures. Really eye-opening in several areas.}
Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss {Loved the journal-format. Written over 100 years ago, but Prentiss' fictionalized account of growing as a woman of Christ is poignant and relatable. I'll need to reread it.}
I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Martin Ganda and Caitlyn Alifirenka
The Last of the Doughboys by Richard Rubin {These interviews of WWII vets almost all over 100 years old were fascinating, amazing, unbelievable. I still think about them.}
Does Prayer Change Things? by R.C. Sproul
September 2021:
Together Tea by Marjan Kamali {Kamali writes another great novel set between Iran and the US.}
King Arthur and Her Knights by K.M. Shea
The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah
Before Beauty by Brittany Fichter {Retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Some great twists to the classic story.}
True Light by Terri Blackstock
Dawn's Light by Terri Blackstock
Lovely War by Julie Berry {Two love stories set during WWI told by Aphrodite and a few other greek gods. Such a neat idea! Loved the ending.}
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney {Just what I needed on my quest for a better praying life. Humorous as well.}
Keeping Hope Alive by Dr. Hawa Abdi
Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers {Childers' memoir/apologetics book defines progressive Christianity and explains why and how it is so destructive.}
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny {Another Gamache installment. Lots of inner turmoil. Unexpected ending too!}
The Number of Love by Roseanna White {WWI codebreakers novel. Christian fiction that was actually well-written!}
The Girl in the Red Hood by Brittany FIchter {A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that was somewhat dark but still clean. Compelling!}
The Princess Companion by Melanie Cellier
What is Predestination? by R.C. Sproul
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
October 2021:
Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner {I love Meissner's historical fiction. I was completely caught up in the dual time frames of this novel.}
The Riven Kingdoms, Books 1-3 by Shari L. Tapscott
The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins {Magical realism at its finest. Love the idea of books telling a librarian who needs them.}
A Cup of Silver Linings by Karen Hawkins {sequel to above. This time with magical teas made for specific people.}
Tisha: The Story of A Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness by Anne Hobbs Purdy and Robert Sprecht {I barely put this memoir down--about a young teacher in early 1900s in Alaska.}
Hall of Blood and Mercy, Books 1-3 by K.M. Shea {Funny, clean, well-written urban fantasy! I'll reread these (which says a lot).}
When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment by Ryan T. Anderson {A well thought out and well-researched book on a really hard, controversial topic. Really appreciated the Christian perspective.}
Sweep: The Story of A Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier {Fantastic storytelling of a chimney sweep and her golem.}
Teaching from Rest by Sarah MacKenzie {Memoir/homeschooling book for mamas. It spoke to my heart.}
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins
The Spoken Mage Series, Books 1-5 by Melanie Cellier {Fantasy. I was immediately pulled into their world; specifically how important and powerful words are!}
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Mr. Gardiner and the Governess by Sally Britton
November 2021:
Court of Midnight and Deception, Books 1-3 by K.M. Shea {Urban fantasy trilogy that was just as engaging as her previous set from October. So good!}
The Marquise and her Cat by Shari L. Tapscott
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale {I was really impressed with Hale's songs/poems she created for this book, and with her general storytelling style. Lovely.}
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope {Fantasy set during the reign of Queen Mary in England. Eerie, kind of creepy.}
The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope {I smiled throughout this one. Colonial era ghosts appear to tell their stories at their historical family home.}
A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White
The Last Chance Motel by Karen Hawkins
A Companion for the Count by Sally Britton
The Autumn Fairy Trilogy by Brittany Fichter
10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery {I reread this as an adult and so loved it! Better as an adult, I think.}
A Day Like This by Kelley McNeil
Clara's Soldier by Brittany Fichter
Pippa of Lauramore by Shari L. Tapscott {First in a fantasy series. I loved the main characters and their different story lines. I read the rest of the series in December.}
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore {This nonfiction book was haunting. It has stuck with me even when I would rather it hadn't. Such a sad piece of history.}
The Girl from the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor
December 2021:
The Star Clock Chronicles, Books 1-5 by E.J. Kitchens {These steampunk fantasy novellas were so different and entertaining!}
Penny's Yuletide Wish by Sally Britton
The Coronation Ball by Melanie Cellier
Happily Ever Afters by Melanie Cellier
Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar {Such a well-written historical fiction set during the times of the early church.}
Timeless Fairy Tales: Beauty and the Beast, Wild Swans, Cinderella and the Colonel by K.M. Shea {Specifically loved this take on Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. Kept my attention the whole time.}
The Taste of Ginger by Mansi Shah
Mystery at the Midnight Ball by Kristen Niedfeldt {Another awesome Cinderella retelling! I enjoyed the role of responsibility Cinderella ended up engaging in before being rescued.}
The Eldentimber Series, Books 2-6 by Shari L. Tapscott {The rest of Pippa's series. They were just super fun to read.}
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon {This one felt cozy, relaxing, and quite charming.}
The Mark of the Thief by Jennifer E. Nielsen
The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White
The Mistletoe Murders by P.D. James
Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale {Sequel--I enjoyed it just as much as the first.}
I definitely hit my reading stride toward the last half of the year. I'll be keeping my eye on Tim Challies' reading challenge for 2022. I am also toying with the idea of choosing my books for each month ahead of time so that each month will be more well-rounded. We will see how that goes as I can be a bit of a mood-reader.
It's always fun to start a new year of reading!
Let me know any favorites you've read this past year!